Zinc anodes are an essential component in many marine applications. They help prevent corrosion and ensure the long-term durability of metal structures. There are several synonyms for zinc anodes such as sacrificial anodes, cathodic protection, and galvanic anodes. Sacrificial anodes are so called because they corrode instead of the metal they are protecting. Cathodic protection, on the other hand, involves making the metal surface the cathode instead of the anode in a galvanic cell. Galvanic anodes also corrode instead of the metal they are protecting but are made of a more active metal such as zinc, aluminum, or magnesium. Regardless of the term used, the purpose of zinc anodes remains the same, to protect boats and other metal structures from corrosion.